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"Be Careful Out There"
Understanding East Coast Mexican gangs
Sgt. Lou Savelli, NYPD (ret.) Source: PoliceOne.com

Mexican gangs have been forming in the United States for as long as we have had Mexican immigrants. On the East Coast, however, Mexican gangs are virtually a recent phenomenon. In the past several years, East Coast cities have experienced an increase in the creation of gangs consisting of Mexican Nationals. These gangs are largely Border Brothers gangs.

In Spanish, Border Brothers are called "Hermanos de la Frontera." Border Brothers are usually illegal immigrants from the same region in Mexico or those who have illegally entered the United States at the same time. These Border Brothers have formed together for social interactions and protection. After a short time, they operate like any other gang.

Many of these Mexican gangs forming on the East Coast maintain strong ties to Mexico, Mexican traditions and their relatives across the United States. The favorite holiday among Mexican immigrants in the U.S. is Cinco De Mayo, the Fifth of May, which observes the Battle of Puebla, fought on May 5, 1862 against the French army's attempt to take over the town of Puebla. A 2,000-strong Mexican army of soldiers and local citizens armed only with farm tools, defeated 6,000 French Soldiers. Other important dates in the Mexican culture are Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16 and Revolution Day on Nov. 20th. It is important for law enforcement officers to monitor such celebrations for gang activity while ensuring public safety.

Many believe NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), enacted in 1993 with the promise of an increase in the national employment rate of Mexico, is partly the blame for the influx of illegal Mexican immigrants into the United States. Others feel the doubling of the unemployment rate from 1993 to 1995 and the drop in hourly wages to the lowest in Mexico since 1980, resulting in the Peso Crisis, greatly contributed to the illegal exodus from Mexico during these years.

 

Gang members throwing TVS sign at an amusement park
Mexican gangs forming on the East Coast during the mid and late 1990s have undergone a metamorphosis from being unsophisticated, loose-knit social cliques to violent street gangs with strengthening alliances. During this time, Mexican street gangs found themselves at odds with many rival gangs of different ethnic backgrounds as well as other Mexican "Border Brother" gangs. As a result, an alliance similar to the People/Folk alliance in the Midwest was formed.

The two 'umbrella' nations created were La Gran Raza (The Great Race or Nation) and La Gran Familia (The Great Family). In the chart to the right, this alliance is illustrated. Keep in mind that not all Mexican street gangs are members of this alliance and the alliance may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Sources state that each nation is also affiliated with a powerful Mexican Prison Gang. La Gran Raza is alleged to be affiliated with La Eme (The Mexican Mafia) and La Gran Familia is alleged to be affiliated to Nuestra Familia.

Mexican street gangs on the East Coast have taken on similar traits to other street gangs. Initially, these gangs were social in nature and seldom interacted with other groups unless they were involved in heavy drinking binges. Their structure was loose-knit. Today these gangs are more like their American counterparts. Leadership roles are usually assumed by the most violent member of the gang who assigns the second in command who in turn issues orders to the soldiers. The leader is called "Mero Mero" which means Chief or Godfather. These gangs, which started with victimization of their own people and other Mexican gangs, have slowly developed, in some cases, into drug dealing gangs.

During a debriefing, a member of Chidos Picudos detailed the initiation rite of his gang.He said:

    They take you to a street corner, usually near a subway or bus stop. They give you a gun and tell you to stick-up a person for their money. After the stick-up, we meet at a park or schoolyard. We'll buy a couple of forties with the cash and drink until we get so messed up that we start fighting with anyone around!

 

Until recently, Mexican street gangs have been careful to claim turf in a neighborhood or at a local hangout. Their usual status as illlegal aliens made them nervous to settle into one area for too long. In past few years, with their continued delving into the drug trade,

Vagos mark their turf at E.116th street in NY City
they have been claiming turf more brazenly and noticeably marking their territory. Turf is not just a barrio anymore, it's a place of business for these gangsters to sell drugs, extort money from local businesses and commit robberies on passersby. Their overt marking of turf through straightforward graffiti is evidence of their bold new style of gang banging. 

Graffiti

Mexican gang graffiti is more simplistic and to the point than other street gang graffiti. In one tattoo, Vagos is abbreviated by taking the first, middle and last letters of the gang name to create the gangs version of an acronym. (V.G.S.) This abbreviation technique is extremely common in Mexican gangs on the East Coast. Their graffiti seldom uses symbols and needs almost no interpretation. As is plainly stated in the picture above, Vagos are prominent around the area of West 116 Street in New York City. Gangs like the Vagos (aka 'Los Vagos') and other Mexican gangs will frequently insert a reference to 100% which means 100 percent gangster or “I am in to this gang life 100 percent.”

 

Tattoos

Although their graffiti is less symbolic than other gangs, their tattoos are highly symbolic in nature. Common to these gangsters is a picture of a pair of praying hands, which signify praying to God for forgiveness.

The Our Lady of Guadalupe icon is another favorite tattoo worn by gang members.

The Cholo (Gangster) symbol, which signifies the struggle for acceptance in America during the 1940s, is frequently tattooed on the bodies of Mexican Gang members. “Choloization” is the transition an individual makes away from the surrounding culture into a sub-culture. This is viewed by Mexican and Mexican American youth as their new socialization into a gang.

During the early 20th century Mexican American youth donned “Zoot Suits” as an expression of their individuality. The subculture of the Zoot Suiters was blamed for the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots, an altercation between sailors and Zoot Suiters that resulted in a 10-day riot in Los Angeles. It is still unclear today which group was really responsible for the melee.

These tattoos are extremely meaningful to the Mexican gang banger. Phrases tattooed on their bodies like Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life) and Perdoname Mi Madre (Forgive Me Mother) are also symbolic of their awareness of their gangster life and how it is unaccepted by their family and others. These words or phrases will be tattooed in Old English style of printing.

 

Many Mexican gangsters will tattoo the web of their hands with drawings symbolic of their specialty within the gang. These hand tattoos are common among other Latino gangs present throughout North America. In some hardcore cases, these symbols will be burned into the hand. 

Turf

Mexican gang turf during the mid 90s on the East Coast was mostly temporary or non-existent. These gangs, consisting of illegal aliens, were hesitant to remain in one neighborhood for any significant length of time. They were very nomadic and fled to neighborhoods miles away at the slightest hint of pressure from the authorities. They were careful to write graffiti and tags inside of buildings rather than out.

As the late 1990's rolled in, Mexican gangs were claiming turf and hanging out in large groups without worry. Graffiti marking their turf, became bold and superfluous. Large graffiti tags with the gang’s name and membership roll call were now commonplace. Common turf for these gangs were neighborhoods with small apartments near restaurants and stores where they were employed. Today, these gang members will travel miles to work and stand on busy street corners in 'shape-up' groups to obtain a day’s work from contactors seeking cheap labor.

Making money is another use for the gang's turf and street corner drug sales are becoming a more popular way of doing so. As drug use increased among gang members and other Mexicans, the demand brought the gangs into the new millennium. Gangs claiming turf in highly traveled areas of some cities are gaining quite a clientele of drug customers, from a variety of ethnic background, and raking in profits.

Colors

Most Mexican gangs prefer the colors of the Mexican flag, green, white and red, as their gang's representative colors. There are, however, several gangs which have adopted other colors. On the East Coast, many Mexican gangs have adopted beads with their representative colors. They were influenced by other Hispanic gangs like the Latin Kings, La Familia and Netas which were using beaded necklaces since the 1980's.

Beads, bandanas and color-coordinated clothing are now standard alliance representations for Mexican gangs. When checking for a gang's colors or markings, look under a gangster's hat, on the rear of a belt, inside a knapsack or inside a pant's pocket. Mexican gang members are used to hiding their affiliation from the larger, more violent gangs like the Bloods and Latin Kings. And because of the recent violence connected to Mexican gangs, they will hide their affiliation from the police.

 

Tattoos like the one above are memorials to gang violence
Most violence involving Mexican gangs involves other Mexican gangs and their own countrymen, but external gang violence involving Mexican gang members is rapidly increasing. Incidents of Mexican gang violence will occur after a disrespectful act (dis') by a rival gang member precipitated from a shout out at a nightclub, party or celebration. When rival gangs are present at such functions, it doesn't require much of an incident to start an altercation.  

Other acts of violence can occur when there is no other rival gang in sight but an opportunity to show their machismo. These acts often occur during Baptism celebrations, weddings, sweet sixteen parties and other family gatherings crashed by Mexican gangsters who are friends with the DJ or one of the attendees.

Mexican gangsters will crash the party drunk and take any opportunity as a chance to show his worth and gain respect in the eyes of his vatos (homies).

Other forms of disrespect among Mexican gangs have been shown in graffiti cross-outs, written derogatory statements or aggressive paintings, drawings and murals. One such derogatory drawing was seized from a member of the Chicano Nation (CN) who shows himself tearing off the head of the leader of their rival gang, La Escuadron (SDN).

Mexican gangs have their own form of spoken and written language that is evident in their graffiti and conversation. Some of words, phrases, terms, gang name translations or numbers to be aware of:

13 = Depicts the letter M; refers to southern California
14 = depicts the letter N; refers to northern California
Barrio = (Varrio) Neighborhood
Cacos = Local Thieves
Carcel = Jail
Carnal (es) = Brother (s)
Chaca = Indian Warrior
Chicano = Mexican American
Chola = Female gangster
Cholo = Gangster
Cuetes = Gun, explosive, firecracker
Salto; En salto = Jump in (initiation)
Ese = "Hey";" What's up?"
Ese's = Chicanos
Guerrero = Warrior
Hasta La Muerte! = Until death!
Hueros = Whites; Anglos (Caucasions)
Hura = Police
Jefe = Boss
Jura = Police
La Eme = Mexican Mafia
La Mugre = Filthy ones
Maldito = Wicked One
MVL = Mi Vida Loca
NF or Ene Efe = Nuestra Familia
Norteno = A gangster from No. Cali.
Paca = Gang beating
Pachuco(a) = Gangster; Cholo
Pedo = Trouble
Pitufos = Smurfs
Placa = Tag or nickname
Playero = Beachgoer
PMV = Por Mi Vida
Por Mi Vida = For my life
Primo = Cousin
Puto Marks = Cross outs (graffiti)
Rata = Rat: Snitch
Raza = Race
Sombras = Shadows
Sureno= A gangster from So. Cali
Travieso = Misfit
Vago = Vagrant
Vato = Homie
VL = Vato Loco
XIII = 13
XIV = 14
XVIII = 18
Yerba = Marijuana

Maintaining close tabs on Mexican gangs is important. While they are rapidly increasing in numbers, they are stepping up their acts of violence. Many times, innocent people are victims of their violent behavior, especially those who are celebrating a family function when the gangsters decide to crash. There are several murders still under investigation that have not been solved with an arrest of a perpetrator.

These gangsters are spreading to all types of neighborhoods, cities and towns. Rural areas with farms to work, major cities with restaurants to man and suburban areas with construction jobs to complete are prone to these types of gangs forming.

These gang members will offer ID when approached by law enforcement, but mounting numbers of fraudulent alien cards, driver's licenses and social security cards are being confiscated from gang members. When dealing with them, analyze their documents carefully.

Most importantly, Mexican gang members can be very dangerous! This can be true for three reasons. First, they consider themselves Cholos (gangsters) and are probably involved in criminal activity, second, they view law enforcement as an enemy and third, they may be an illegal alien. Be careful!

Sgt. Lou Savelli retired from NYPD after 21 years as the Detective Squad Commander of the Terrorism Interdiction Unit. He is the creator and former commanding officer of NYPD's CAGE (Citywide Anti Gang Enforcement) Unit. He is the cofounder and current Deputy Director of the East Coast Gang Investigators Association. While most of his career has been spent with NYPD, he also spent time as a Police Officer in Hollywood, Florida and as a Correction Officer with the Broward County (FL) Sheriff's Department. He is the author of the East Coast Gang Investigators Handbook. and the president of Homefront Protective Group, a Law Enforcement Training (www.homefrontprotect.com) and consulting company. He can be reached at homefrontprotect@aol.com.

 
Sgt. Lou Savelli retired from NYPD after 21 years as the Detective Squad Commander of the Terrorism Interdiction Unit. He is the creator and former commanding officer of NYPD's CAGE (Citywide Anti Gang Enforcement) Unit. He is the cofounder and current Deputy Director of the East Coast Gang Investigators Association. While most of his career has been spent with NYPD, he also spent time as a Police Officer in Hollywood, Florida and as a Correction Officer with the Broward County (FL) Sheriff's Department. He is the author of the East Coast Gang Investigators Handbook. and the president of Homefront Protective Group, a Law Enforcement Training (www.homefrontprotect.com) and consulting company. He can be reached at homefrontprotect@aol.com.

This article was first presented in two parts on the PoliceOne Web stie, which can be found at:
http://policeone.com/writers/columnists/LouSavelli/articles/121245/